Major NFL rule changes could be coming: 12 things to know about the league's latest proposals

[ROD-BOT]

Major NFL rule changes could be coming: 12 things to know about the league's latest proposals

There could be some big changes coming to the NFL in 2021

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Major NFL rule changes could be coming: 12 things to know about the league's latest proposals

The NFL's decision to expand the schedule to 17 games might not be the only major change we see in 2021 and that's because the league's 32 owners are soon going to be voting on a few rule proposals that would all go into effect this season if they were to pass.

The NFL announced on Thursday that there will be a total of 13 rule or bylaw proposals that the owners will be voting on.

Here's a summary of the key changes that have been proposed, along with who proposed the rule.

1. Eliminate overtime in the preseason (proposed by competition committee).
2. Expand the prohibition on blocking below the waist by offensive and defensive players on scrimmage downs when contact occurs beyond five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and more than two yards outside of either offensive tackle (proposed by competition committee).
3. For one year only, a maximum of nine players could be in the setup zone. This rule mostly relates to kickoffs and would theoretically make it easier to recover onside kicks (proposed by competition committee).
4. Allow the replay official and designated members of the officiating department to provide certain objective information to the on-field officials. Basically, the replay official and people in the league's officiating department would be allowed to help correct a call before it actually goes to replay (proposed by Competition Committee, Coaches Subcommittee, and the Ravens).
5. Add a loss of down for a second forward pass from behind the line and for a pass thrown after the ball returns behind the line. The Rams almost got burnt on a two-pass play by Tom Brady during the 2020 season and they don't want to see it happen again. (proposed by Rams).
6. Ensure the enforcement of all accepted penalties committed by either team during successive extra point attempts. If a team gets penalized on an extra point, they can take the penalty at the 2-yard line OR 15-yard line. If they get penalized again, the penalty has to be enforced from wherever the first penalty was enforced, so if they had a false start on a 2-point conversion, they could have that enforced at the 2- or 15-yard line. If they had a second false start, they no longer get an option, it would be enforced from the spot of the first penalty (proposed by Bears).
7. Expand jersey number options for certain positions. If this passes, the rule would allow running backs, linebackers and defensive backs to wear No. 1-19 and wide receivers could wear No. 1-19 (along with their normal 80-89). This rule has been proposed by the Chiefs.
8. Implement a spot-and-choose overtime rule. Basically, one team would pick where the ball is spotted in overtime and then the second team would pick whether they want to play offense or defense. You can read more details on the rule by clicking here (proposed by Ravens).
9. Instead of an onside kick, this rule proposal would allow a team to try to convert a fourth-and-15 play to retain possession of the ball. You can read more details on the rule by clicking here (proposed by Eagles).
10. Playoff teams are not allowed to sign players who have been cut by teams that aren't in the playoffs (proposed by Competition Committee)
11. Teams would be required to report tryouts and visits to the league office throughout the year (proposed by Competition Committee).
12. To keep all teams and candidates on equal ground, interviews for head coaching or coordinator jobs can't be held until after the conference title games and you can't make any hirings until after the Super Bowl (proposed by Bills).

Rules that have been proposed by the competition committee generally have a better chance of passing, so it's almost a guarantee that a few of these will pass. The rule proposals will be discussed with coaches and general managers around the league in late April and then the owners will vote on any possible rule changes at their annual spring meeting in May.

 

[CGI_Ram]

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Rams propose 'Tom Brady rule' after odd play during 2020 season

It's not often that an NFL quarterback gets away with completing two passes on one play, but that's what Tom Brady did to the Rams last season, and now the Rams are proposing a rule change to make sure no one else ever gets stuck in the situation that they found themselves in last November.

Under the Rams' proposed rule, teams will lose a down if they throw a second forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage or if they throw a pass from behind the line of scrimmage after the ball has already crossed the line of scrimmage. This might seem like a very specific rule, but the Rams are proposing it because of what happened with Brady back in Week 11.

On a third-and-10 play for the Buccaneers in the fourth quarter, a pass thrown by Brady was batted back to him and he responded by throwing another pass, which ended up being an 8-yard completion to Mike Evans.


View: https://twitter.com/thecheckdown/status/1331081306889887746?s=21

The officials saw the second pass and threw a flag, but it left the Rams in a tough spot. If they accepted the penalty, it would only be for 5 yards, which means Brady and the Buccaneers offense would get to come back on the field for a third-and-15. If they declined the penalty, the second pass would COUNT and the Buccaneers would be facing a fourth-and-2.

From the Rams' point of view, there was nothing fair about this situation. Even though Brady committed an egregious penalty, the Buccaneers were either going to get another down (if penalty is accepted) or gain 8 yards (if penalty is declined). The Rams ended up declining the penalty and Brady got credited for an 8-yard pass (The Buccaneers also decided to punt on fourth-and-2 from their own 42 in a game they would lose 27-24).

When someone throws a forward pass from beyond the line of scrimmage, the penalty is 5 yards and a loss of down, and that's the same punishment the Rams want for anyone who throws two passes. If the Rams' proposal had been in place, they would have accepted the penalty on Brady and the Buccaneers would have faced a fourth-and-15.

If this rule gets voted through, we can go ahead and call it the "Tom Brady rule" because the Rams would have never proposed it if Brady hadn't done it against them.

 

[kurtfaulk]

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It's so dumb a team even has to propose this. How was this not in the rules after 100 years of playing this sport? I can't believe that no qb in the history of the game hasn't thrown a second pass from behind the line of scrimmage.

Why do they even specify from where the qb throws the second pass? So dumb.

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[CGI_Ram]

If this rule gets voted through, we can go ahead and call it the "Tom Brady rule" because the Rams would have never proposed it if Brady hadn't done it against them.

Maybe I am still asleep, but what does this mean?

It sort of sounds like a jab at the Rams.

I think if this happened to any team, that would be the team proposing this rule. The Rams just happen to be that team.